Page 101 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“About six months, ma’am.”

“And when did you leave?”

“Last year. I did nothing wrong there, ma’am, but I had to leave! I did not steal or do nothing wrong!”

“I am sure you did not. And where have you worked since then? Do you have a family? Do not worry, I only wish to know more about you. There is no reason to worry.”

“Yes, ma’am. My family is in Cambridgeshire. I lived with Jacob’s mother, but there is not much room there. And I must raise my girl. Jacob said I should come to beg your ladyship. He said you are so kind and you were so good to them. And I can do anything. I work hard, ma’am, but I cannot leave my girl! And I can’t go back to the Barrington estate!”

“Peggy, please do not cry! Why would you say that? Nobody would ask you to leave your daughter! And most certainly you will not return there. Come, have some water.”

“Oh no, ma’am. Thank you. May I leave now?”

“If you wish…Perhaps tomorrow you will introduce your daughter to me. Go to her now. Good night.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The meeting troubled Elizabeth exceedingly. She easily recognised the signs of abuse, so apparent in all those touched by Lord Barrington in some way. She had begun to change for dinner when Sarah entered to help her.

“Lady Barrington, forgive me… will you allow Peggy to remain here?”

“Of course. She will be treated in the same manner as all the servants—we will find the best situation for her and her child.”

“She may keep the child too?”

“Most certainly. How can you ask me such a question, Sarah?”

“I beg your forgiveness, your ladyship, I just thought that… She feared that…”

“What is it, Sarah? Please speak plainly, I am too tired to guess.”

Sarah began to arrange her hair, when a revelation, like lightning, struck Elizabeth.

“Sarah, is little Lucy Lord Barrington’s daughter?”

She felt the girl freeze.

“Sarah?”

“We cannot know, ma’am,” the girl whispered in distress. “Lord Barrington used to… and there were his friends…and..”

Elizabeth turned to the maid, horror and anger suffocating her.

“My dear, what are you saying? Sarah!”

“When the maids fell pregnant, they had to leave. But they wanted to anyway. There was a girl who told nobody she was pregnant and she died one night and…”

The girl began to sob and Elizabeth stroked her hand.

“My dear, please calm yourself. I need you to tell me everything you know so I can help them. Were there other maids?”

“Yes…I believe so.”

“Do you know how many? Who they are?”

“I only know two of them…”

“And you?” Elizabeth whispered.